Oceanside Visit Key to Toshiba Classic Success for O'Meara

Titleist Brand Ambassador Mark O'Meara recently visited the Oceanside Test Facility on his way to the Toshiba Classic in nearby Newport Beach, and left with three new 909 metals. The long game overhaul agreed with Mark, who recorded his fifth career runner-up finish on the Champions Tour. Mark commented on his fitting during his media session following Saturday's round at Newport Beach Country Club.

"On Tuesday this week I went to the Titleist Test Center, the TPI down in Oceanside, to work with Larry Bobka, who kind of is their guru down there that fits all the players. I hadn't been on the launch monitor for awhile. I hit some drives with my driver, and they said, 'Wait a minute.' I'm like, 'What?' He's like, 'Well, your spin rate is way off. It's too high.' I was like, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'Your ball is kind of going out there like somebody could catch it, you know. It doesn't have any go on it.'"

Mark continues, "Larry said, 'Just give me 45 minutes and let me try a couple shafts and a couple different drivers.' So he put like two or three drivers in my hand, and I think the second or third driver he put in my hand, the shaft and the head, and all of a sudden the spin rate was right and the ball was going. He said, 'Okay, this is the club you need to be playing with.' I was like, 'Really?' And he said, 'Oh, yeah.' So sure enough, he built me a new driver and a new 3-wood and a new hybrid, and those are the three clubs that are in my bag. The ball is getting out there now for a change, so it's a little more fun."